HUGHTON: SPECIAL STRIKES GAVE US A LIFT

3 February 2018

Paul Hazlewood Chris Hughton

Kieran Cleeves

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton felt the ‘special’ second-half goals from Jose Izquierdo and Pascal Gross were exactly the lift his team needed as they beat West Ham United 3-1 at the Amex Stadium this afternoon.

The game was level after goals from Glenn Murray and Javier Hernandez in the opening half, but brilliant strikes from Izquierdo and Gross won the game for the Seagulls, and Hughton expressed his delight.

He said, “You’ll need them [ goals] - Glenn’s goal was a typical striker run, but you need them special goals that players can create.

“Both players that scored them [Jose Izquierdo and Pascal Gross] are capable of that, and we need more of that from them.

“It gave us the lead [Izquierdo’s goal] and that was the lift. At that stage in the second half it was still 1-1, and it’s very nervous and can go either way.

“You need something to break that deadlock, and when it’s a goal like that, it lifts you even more.”

Although Hughton was frustrated by West Ham’s equalising goal on the south coast, he applauded his players for producing a potent second-half display.

“We started the game really well and took the lead with a good goal - but it was a little bit disappointing that we let our levels drop halfway through the first half.

“West Ham are a good side with a lot of good players, and it was disappointing to concede the goal, but we came out in the second half and were the better side.

“Probably in that second half, it was as good as we’ve been all season in regards to threatening and looking like we could get more goals.”

The Seagulls moved three points clear of the relegation zone, ahead of next weekend’s match against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium - and Hughton reflected on a positive week for his team.

“It’s about the levels and we’ve faired okay this season. At the moment it feels like a big win and it’s been a good week.

“We stayed in the FA Cup and drew against Southampton. We now have a good week’s preparation going into the next game and hopefully this will give us the lift we need.”